Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

H. BISSBLL.

Thill Coupling.

No. 242,425. Patented June 7,1881.

,ZitV670 v all NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HARVEY BISSELL, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,425, dated June '7, 1881.

Application filed March 24, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY BISSELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in ThilLGouplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in thill and poll couplings, and has for its object to provide an efficient and simple construction of the parts, to permit their convenient connection and disconnection, while preventing their accidental disengagement when connected, and at the same time avoid rattling of the parts and the consequent noise.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip, yoke, or thill-iron, conneetedand constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, perspective views of the parts disconnected, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical sectional view.

The letter A indicates a clip, and B the yoke which connects the ends of the clip beneath the axle, the yoke having apertures through which the screw-threaded ends a a of the clip pass, and are confined in position by nuts I) b.

The yoke B is constructed with two forwardprojecting parallel arms, 0 O, at a sufficient distance from each other to create a rectilinear space, and the ends of the said arms are connected by a cylindrical pin, D, all of which parts are preferably made in a single piece of cast or wrought metal. The arm 0 is somewhat thicker than the arm 0, in order to act as a stop to limit and determine the position of the thill-iron in connecting it with the yoke, as hereinafter described.

The letter E indicates the thill-iron, to which the chills or shafts are attached by bolts passin g through the holes 0. The rear end of the thill-iron is formed or otherwise provided with an enlarged rounded head, F, having flat vertical and parallel sides (I d, a cylindrical transverse aperture, G, and a slot, H, opening into the same. The solid portion of the head, from the rear edge of the slot H, is gradually enlarged or thickened around and beneath the transverse aperture G, so that the latter is, in fact, eccentrically arranged in relation to the edges of the head, thereby forming a cam-sur- (No model) face, I. The slot H extends vertically from the aperture G, or substantially at right angles to the thill-iron. At one side thereof is provided a shoulder, H, and therefore, in order to attach the latter to the yoke of the clip, the thill-iron must be lifted to an upright or nearly upright position to bring the aperture and slot in its head into coincidence respectively with the cylindrical pin D and reduced arm G, when the thill-iron can be passed laterally over the yoke until the shoulder H strikes the enlarged arm 0, which acts as a stop or abutment to the further lateral movement of the thill-iron, and indicates that the head F is in coincidence with the rectilinear space between the arms 0 O. WVhen the parts are in this position the thill is dropped and the slotted portion H passes around the cylindrical pin and assumes a vertical, or nearly vertical, position. As the slot in the head is of a less width than the diameter of the pin, it manifestly follows that the thill-iron cannot drop from the same, while all lateral movement of the thill-iron is prevented by the arms of the yoke, because a portion of the solid head projects above the said arms.

In order to provide a yielding rest for the thill-iron, and at the same time keep its cylindrical aperture in contact with the pin, and thus avoid rattling of the parts and the consequent disagreeable noise, I provide the flat spring I, which is of peculiar construction. This spring is provided with a rearward eX- tension, 6, which rests under and is supported by the axle, and it then extends over a shoulder on the yoke, and projects in a curved path under the head of the thill, bearing against the cam-surface I. Where the spring passes over the shoulder of the yoke it is formed with an aperture, f, through which one end of the clip A passes. it will thus be seen that the spring is substantially supported and confined in position to act on the thill-iron. I11 turning the thill from its upright position the cam-surface acts on the spring and places it under tension, thereby effectively performing the functions hereinbefore mentioned.

It will, of course, be evident that, instead of widening the arm 0 to act as an abutment or stop to the lateral movement of the thill-iron in connecting the parts, the stop maybe formed of the spring-plate extending in a curved path beneath the cam-head of the thill, and placed under tension by turning the thill-iron down- 15 ward to connect the parts, siibstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARVEY BISSELL. IVitnesses HENRY J. FELKER, CHARLES REEVES. 

